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Jackson Woman Galvanizes Support To Change Flag Through Ballot Box

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by Desare Frazier on

A new effort is underway to remove the confederate emblem from the state flag called Initiative 55, the Flag for all Mississippians Act. It's the brainchild of 43-year old Sharon Brown of Jackson.

"As a state flag it should be representative of all persons and not just representative of our past," said Brown.

Brown says she need 100,000 signatures for the initiative to appear on the 2018 ballot.

"We do we want? A new flag! When do we want it? Right now!" chanted marchers.

Sunday, supporters wearing T-shirts that said 1 Flag for all and carrying signs marched from Jackson State University to the Capital for a rally. Among the marchers, South Carolina Republican State Representative Jenny Horne. She was instrumental in urging lawmakers to remove the confederate flag from their state capitol grounds after the Charleston Nine killings. While supporters of the flag say its about heritage not hate, Horne says it unified the state and makes dollars and cents.

"The economic development opportunities that Mississippi is missing out on, you don't even know it. But it's costing all citizens jobs and economic development. And in South Carolina what we've seen is that now we're open for business," said Horne.

Eighty-two year old Civil Rights Icon Myrlie Ever-Williams told the crowd not to be discouraged by delays.

"As long as you get there. As long as Mississippi gets there and we become a united state. We're going to be okay," said Evers-Williams.

Sharon Brown expects the certified petitions should be ready this week to begin collecting signatures.